New York – Saba:
United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher warned on Monday that one in every three people in the Gaza Strip has not eaten for days, calling for the urgent delivery of aid and a permanent ceasefire.
In a statement addressing the humanitarian situation in Gaza, Fletcher said: “Gaza is enduring a humanitarian catastrophe before the eyes of the world,” noting that people seeking food aid are being shot at, and children are "wasting away" from hunger.
He stressed that “no aid should be blocked, delayed, or distributed under fire,” and highlighted the need for aid convoys to receive rapid clearance to cross borders. He also urged an end to the targeting of civilians trying to access food assistance.
Gaza is currently facing the worst humanitarian crisis in its history, marked by extreme famine and what rights groups describe as a genocidal war waged by the Israeli entity—with U.S. support—since October 7, 2023.
Since March 2, 2025, Israel occupation has closed all border crossings with Gaza, preventing the entry of most food and medical supplies, leading to a widespread famine.
According to the latest figures, 133 Palestinians—including 87 children—have died from hunger and malnutrition since the beginning of the aggression.
The UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) previously warned that malnutrition among children under five had doubled between March and June due to the ongoing siege.
Meanwhile, the World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed that malnutrition rates in Gaza have reached alarming levels, noting that the deliberate blockade and delay of aid have cost many lives. Nearly one in five children under five in Gaza City is now suffering from acute malnutrition.
Since October 7, 2023, Israeli enemy forces have launched a relentless assault on the Gaza Strip, killing at least 59,821 Palestinians—most of them women and children—and injuring 144,851 others, according to non-final figures. Many victims remain trapped under rubble or in inaccessible areas due to ongoing bombardment.
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